Grid-casting machine



Feb. 18, 1930. 'ND 1,747,552

GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1 927 5 Shea t 1,

ARTHURD. LUND Feb. 18, 1930. A. D. LUND GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1'7, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Xf flffa Feb. .18, 1930. I A, D, LUND 1,747,552

GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb18, 1930. 4 A,D,LUND 1,747,552

GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug.17, 1927 s'sneets-sneet 4 l I di l: M

n: llf

ART/4w? D. Lu/vo Patented Feb. 18, 1930 l A RTEUEB- D. LUND, OI EINNEAPOLI S, 'MINNESbil-A' earn-casrme macnmn A m'aaon filed August 17, 1921.- .serau Nod- 218,875.

This invention relates to casting machin cry and the primary objectlis to provide a machine which is especially designed for the purpose of casting battery grids; which is practical and efiicient, in construction and operation, when compared with methods and meansheretofore employed for this purpose; and which will roduc large quantities of grids in a limited space of time, thus cheapening' the cost of producing completed and marketable grids. A further object is to provide an improved type of dieor mold carrier, and means for operating the same. Another object is to provide a highly novel and eflicient construction of lead melting and feeding mechanism, and means for synchronously actuating the same in conjunction with the mold carrier. Still further and more specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: r

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine, asseen substantially on a central longitudinal plane therethrough, and with some parts in full and others removed, for purpose of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, with some parts broken away.

Fig. 3'is a, sectional elevation of the machine, as on the line 3-3 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the machine, as on the irregular line 44 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation about as on the line 5--5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of thepreferred form of nozzle construction. I

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section on the line 7-7 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is'a skeleton plan viewof the machine withvariousparts removed, for the purpose of illustrating certain substructure,

and which also shows the application of the die smoking device. I Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section on' the line 11-11 in Fig. p 3

Fig. 10 isa detail elevation, similarto F1 9, but as seen from the-opposite side, and partly in'section as on the line. 12-12 no in Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the device sub-f stan'tlally as seen, from abovein'Fig. 10.

The drawings will now be described in detail by reference characters, like characters designating like parts throughout thevae5 nous v1eWs.-

' Referring first ,to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 -6 and 8, wherein are shown the lead receptacles andmelting unit, 21 designates a base or frame,

preferably of cast metal, and which supto ports a large outer rece tacle 22,; also prefer.-

' ably of cast metal, having short legs or feet 23, and a shallow extension 2A. A receptacle 25, for holding the molten lead 26, is spaced within the. receptacle 22, and has a flange 27 05 which rests uponthe upper edge of the latter. The receptacle'25 also has an extension,

similar to 24, and spaced therefrom so as to form a flue 28 therewith, said flue terminating' in escape holes 29. The receptacle 25 is 10 further rovided with an integral partition 30, whic completely divides it into .two

chambers A and B, while a second integral partition 31, extending partway down into the chamber B creates a separate well 32. "i

The rece tacle 25, as a whole, is heated by any suita le means, such as a gas burner '33. which is spaced between the receptacles 22 and: 25, and is supplied with fuel as by a pipe 34 having a valve 35. The heat from this burner will entirely surround the receptacle 25, thus ,meltingjthe lead therein and keeping it in a fluid state, and as this heat escapes through the restricted flue 28 it will also keep the lead in'the extensionof'25 hot.

Consideration will now be given to the lead feeding and, handling unit, which con- 5 ve-ys the lead from the melter and feeds it into the molds, later to be described. This unit, c'omprises,- in part, a tall and relatively heavy frame or standard 36. This standard" is not moved withrespect to the base frame 21, and may, if desired, be cast integral therewith, but for convenience in manufacture: may be made separate, as shown. Upon'the top of the standard'f36 we mount'a motor 37, having a shaft 38, which at one end is provided with a'sprocket pinion ,39, which revolving it will, of course,

wise suitably secured, to a shaft 43 journaled In a bearing 44 on the standard 36.

The pinion 42 is connected by a sprocket chain 45 to a pinion 46 which is carried'on and rotates a short stub shaft 47 journaled to rotate in a bearing 48 mounted onthe partition 31. The other end of the shaft carries a feed wheel 49 the purpose of which is to feed or convey the molten lead from the well 32 into the chamber A. To this end the wheel 49 is so mounted that a considerable lower portion of it is submerged in the metal of the well, and its peripheral surface is provided with a series of orifices 50 which are the terminals of radially curved passageways 51, all of which converge to a common center or recess 52 in the end of the hub 53 of the wheel. It will thus be seen that as the wheel 49 is rotated by the motor 37, through the mechanism 38, 40, 41, 43, 42, 45, 46, 47, he channels 51 will each pick up a limited amount of molten lead and conduct it extends well over the partition 30 the lead will be dropped into the chamber A. In order to preserve the temperature of the lead thus being transferred, as much as possible, and also for the purpose of keeping out foreign matter, I provide it with a guard or case 54, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. It may also here be noted that the primary functionwell 32 at all as long asthe normal lead level is kept above the lower edge of the partition '31. Carried by the partition 30 is a gooseneck or elbow 55 (see is so arranged that it will return the lead from the chamber A to the chamber B, when it reaches a certain level in the former. As this member 55 is tubular it will be seen that the restricted passage thus formed will not permit the atmosphereto cool the returning lead stream. As the wheel 49 is continuously continually feed lead into the chamber A, but this chamber will not overflow' even if the lead is not normally removed by the feeding mechanism at the same rate, because of the escape or return permitted by the duct 55. Thus we are enabled to retain the lead in chamber Aat a constant, predetermined level, the importance of which will be explained hereinafter. 7 a r The sprocket pinion 39, through a s rocket chain 56, drives the sprocket gear 5 of a clutch hub 58, rotatably carried on a shaft to the end of the hub 53, and as this hub Figs. 2, 3 and 7) which 59. This shaft is journaled in a bearing extension or bracket arm of a slide plate 61, and has a clutch hub 62 which is splined on the shaft for selective engagement and disengagement with the clutch hub 58. Thus when the clutch 58, 62. is locked or closed the chain 56 will drive the shaft 59, and when the clutch is open, then the clutch hub 58 will merely rotate on the shaft 59. The clutch hub 62 is reciprocated by a fork arm 63 of a bell crank lever 64 which is pivoted,

as at 65 to the bracket arm 60, and which is connected by a link 66 to the upper end of a tripper lever 67 pivoted as at 68 to the standard 36. The lower end of the lever 67 has a roller 69 which is engaged and actuated by the moldcarrying turret,-later tobe described. It may here be noted that a spring 70 (see Fig. 4) the tension of which may be adjusted by a nut 71 engaging a spring bolt 7 2, normally holds the clutch 58, 62 out of engagement, and the roller end of the lever 67 in an initial position with respect to the advancing turret sections.

The inner end of the shaft 59l1asa wheel 7 3, connected by a conneeting rod 74 to the upper end of a plunger 75, the lower end of which operates in a packing box 76 of a pot 77. This pot is rigidly carried on a de-- pending, integral extension 78. of the slide plate 61. The plunger or piston guides in a pair of lugs 9 which are also integral with the slide plate-61.

lead of the chamber A, and the lead isconducted into the pot through a port 339 closed by the valve head 81 of a valve stem 82. This valve stem 82 is sli'dable in extension bearings 83 of the lugs'79, and a spring84 tends to keep the valve yieldingly. closed. The valve is opened, to admit the molten lead, by the forked end of a bell-crank-lever 85, pivotally carried. by other end of the lever has a roller 86 which constantly travels on the peripheral surface of the wheel 73. This surface has an arcuate or peripheral recess 87, into which the roller 86 drops, under the action of spring 84. Thus, as the'wheel 73 rotates it will have a cam acting influence on the rocker lever 85, and by so doing will effect an intermittent openingand closing. of the valve port 80. The parts are so co-ordinated that the Valve will be closed while the piston 7 5 moves downward, and will be opened durin the greater part of the upward travel o the piston. The valve does not open, however,

The pot 77 is normally submerged in the the lower lug 79, and the until the pistonhas first started to move upwardly,

' the wheel 73, not engageable by -the roller 86,

is a notch 89 (see Figs. 3 and 4), adapted to receive a roller 90 (which travels on the circular periphery), carried at the end of a bell crank lever 91, which is pivoted, as at 92, to the lower lug 79, and is. connected by a link 93 to the lever 67, below the pivot bolt 68. The roller 90 by engaging the notch 89 serves to check the momentum of the wheel 73, and acts as a stop therefor during the tur- 'ret moving action. When the next empty mold is brought into filling position the action upon the roller 69 (to the left, as in Fig. 4) causes the lever 67, by pulling on the link 93, to disengage the roller 90' from the notch 89, thus leaying the wheel 73 free to rotate.

' This same action, by the lever 67 causes the but will always be kept hot enough so that the lead will freely pour into the molds. The discharge ends of the spouts 88 are provided with downwardly. directed beaks, each of which comprises an'inner, integral member.

94 and an outer complementing member 95,

- which is pivoted, as at 96, sothat it can be lifted up, when necessary, to permit access to the interior of the spout for-cleaning purposes. serves as a stop-for the member 95 when the latter is swung open, while a weighted arm 98, serves to hold the beak member 95 down in its closed position. a In Fig. 4, of the-drawings, the beak at the leftiis shown as closed, while the one at the right is shown as open. The entire mechanism thus far described as being carried by the plate extensions and lugs 78, 60, 79 and 83, is supported by the plate 61,'and thisplate is dovetailed into, and vertically movable in a race formed by-a pair of integral rails 99 of the standard36. The carriage or plate 61 is vertically adjusted by a hand wheel 100, mounted on one end of a horizontally journaled shaft 101, having a bevel pinion 102 which meshes with the bevel pinion 103 of a vertically disposed screw 104,

Y which, inturn is threaded in a rear lug 105' of.thecarriage plate 61. 'Thus when the and the late 61, which it supports, to travel up and own asmay be deslred. When the .60

wheel 100 is turned it will cause the lug 1'05 carriage is downgit is in its operating position, and'thechain 56 is suflicientl taut to be operative, but when the carriage is moved up, which is done when the machine the pot 77 out of thecha'mber A,j then the is to be left idle for some time, so as to get A horn 97 is integral with and chain 56 will be greatl' slackened. In order to permit a free lift 0 the carriage it is also necessary to temporarily remove the boltor pin 106 (Figs. 2 and 4) which connects the members 66 and 67, and when this is 'done ment so that it is probably unnecessary to disconnect any of the parts 91-93, 67, butone of' the pivot pins 1n such mechanism may easily be temporarily removed, if necessary. Having described the lead melting and feeding mechanism, attention is now called to.

the grid dies, and the mold carrying unit, as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 9.

' Spaced at a properdistance from the stand 21, and also resting on the floor, is a relatively broad base 107 having an integral, centrally n the, lever 67 has suflicient freedom form'ovearranged post or standard 108, the upper end of which is reduced to form anarbor or trunnion 109 for a large turret 110. This turret is standard (see Fig. 1). The turret has a number (in the present case, five) of radial arms.

each'of which carries a grid molding unit.

In order that the turret may-be properly started, moved, and stopped, in coordination with theoperation of the lead feeding mechanism (above described), it is necessary that.

the mold units be successively brought into receiving position with respect to the filler beaks 94-95, held stationary while the lead is being poured, and then be advanced to make room for the next empty mold unit. In other words it becomes necessary to convert the continuous rotary motion of a power motor 113, into an intermittent rotary motion. of the turret; This I accomplish, as follows:

The motor 113 (see Figs.,1 and 8') is mount- 4 ed on the base 107, and drives a worm wheel 114, through the medium of a sprocket pin- 1 ion 115, a sprocket chain 116, and a sprocket gear 117 which drives a shaft 118 having a worm 119. meshing with the worm gear 114. A driving connection between the shaft 118 and the gear 117 consists of a friction clutch having a male member 120, splined on the shaft 118, and a female member 121 driven by the sprocket gear.11'7. The clutch member 120 has a peripherally grooved collar 122, en-. .gaged by a shipper lever 123,'pivoted as at 124, and connected by a linkrod 125 to a crank arm 126 of a vertical shaft 127, which extends up through. and is jou'rnaled in suitable bearing extensions 128 of the post 108. The upper} 'end of the shaft.127 is provided With ahand lever 129, which1 may rest in either, of two positions o'na bracket arm 130, carried by-the melting and-jfeedingunit. When the;arm 129 is in oneof these positions the clutch 12'1 i is closed, so that themotor 113 will drive the worm gear 114, andwhenjin its other position. the clutch is open and the gear 114 is idle 'ev n though-the motor is running. 7 The gear 14 is fixedon'a shaft 131, journaled in bearings 85 preferably mounted to rotate on roller bearings 111, carried on a shoulder 1120f the 132, of the standard 108 and theworm memsafety measure. The upper end of the shaft 131 is: providedwith a cross head lever 134, having rollers 135, at its ends, for operating engagement withflanges 136, depending from the turret arms. The inner end portions of these flanges 136 are substantially radial, with the post 108 area center, but the outer endsof each pair of these flanges diverge, and are curved in arcs, the arcs of two opposed flange sections being concentric and having radii which are common to the operating radius of the cross head 134, whereby the roller 135 can roll on two opposite flange arcs, and when so moving will not rotate 'the turret at all. It is during this motion or time thatthe mold filling operation takes place. But the crors head 134 continues to rotate (in a direction contrary to the direction of movement of the turret) the outwardly moving roller 135 disengages the flange are it has beenin contact with, while the inwardly moving ro'ller meets the straight section of the flange it engages, and starts to move the turret. As the last mentioned roller approaches the center of the turret, the other roller swings out and then n to engage the near flange of the next advancing turret arm (as in Fig. 8), at which time the first flange has moved out to the arc section of the preceding turret-arm, and the turret is again stationary for another interval of time. This operation continues as long as the machine is functioning.

The outer end of each turret arm carries a vise, consisting of an outer jaw 137 and an inner jaw 138. The jaw 137 is substantially U-shaped, in cross section (Figs. 1 and 5) and is inverted so as to open downwardly.

It is also heavily ribbed, as at 139, primarily to give the strength required. Its inner end rests on and is secured to the turret arm by bolts 140. The inner jaw 138 of each vise, is integrally formed with or secured by bolts 141, to a plate 142, which, in turn, is carried at the outer ends of a pair of shafts 143. As shown in Fig. 4, there are in reality two members 138 and 142 for each innerj aw but .as they operate in unison they are here considered as unit members. 'The'shafts or bars 143 are preferably square, in cross section, and extend through the inner jaw legs of 138, and also through guides or bearings 144, carried on the jaw members 137 The innerends, i. e.,

the ends of the bars 143 ngarest the post 108, are secured, as at 145, in the ends ofcros's bars 146, each of which has a center bearing extension 147 see especially Fig. 9).

A rod 148 extends into each of the members 146147 and is mounted for a limited recipfound necessar by an adjusting nut 150, the position of which is locked by a lock nut 151.

yielding response to the closing action of the molds, and also to insure otherwise permit an uneven closing or a slight opening which would, of course, be fatal to the production of usable grids.

The rods 148 extend between series of vertical and horizontal rollers 153, carried on the turret arms, and are thus firmly held so that they can move longitudinally only. The inner ends of the rods 148 are provided with rollers 154 which guide againstthe periphery of a head 155 on the post 108.- Said peeir complete closing, thus taking up any play that might 'riphery is are shaped, in part, and is recessed or cam shaped, in part, so that the v-iseswill be closed from the time they leave the mold filling mechanism until they successively come. intothe position of the vise at the lower left hand corner, as shown in Fig. 2. .As the turret continues to revolve, the rollers 154 then drop into the recess 156, and as they do so they also strike the flanges-157 of a pair of guide plates 158, secured on the head 155. These flanges serve to pull in the rods 148, and thus insure the separation of the molds so that the grids may drop out, and to assist in this separation it is found desirable to provide the flanges with bosses 159 which tend to give a quicker or grid releasing action to the bars 148 as will later be noted. As each of the rollers 154 leaves the member 158, and

posed lips 162 at the lower ends of the jaws proper, as in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. The mold members 161 are further secured by bolts 163 (Figs. 4 and 8) which are anchored in the molds, but have adjusting nuts 164 by which the may be regulated so as to give them a tri e of freedom for play, and which play is compensated foror taken up by cushioning springs 165 which are-regulated, as to tension, 7

by bolts 166.

Each vise carries two sets of molds 160- 161, each of which has a funnel 167, and the.

two funnels of each unit are so spaced that they Wlll stop'in receiving positions directly below the filler beaks 94-95, as shown in Fig. 4. The funnels project u through suitable apertures between the ri s 139, and are vertically divisible so that each half is car ried by a corresponding mold section (160- 161) and moves with it.

From the foregoing description'and explanation it. will be seen that with a sufiiclcnt itnuous rotary motion to the feed wheel 49,

, termined leve filled. As soon as the for t isoperation havin with a result that the metal level in the chamber A is always retained at a constant predelevel is abovethe chamber 7 7, but'is below the top of the packing box 7 6, with a result that no part of the surface of the piston 73 can alternately contact with the lead atone moment and with the atmosphere at the next moment. This is an important feature, because of the fact that under such circumstances it is impossible for the piston to ac-v cumulate a litharge coating, as results in a pump structure otherwise constructed. When,

the motor 113 is now started an intermittent rotary motion'is imparted to the turret 110 and as the turret 110 and as the mold carrying arms of the turret approach the feeding mechanism the molds thereof close together and the roller 69 is enga ed to close the clutch 58 which intu'rn starts t e feed mechanism in motion to inject charges of lead into the empt molds. The necessary interval of time elapsed, the turret turns another fifth o a rotation, whereupon the succeeding molds are successivel id plates have sufli ciently cooled. the mold s of each arm 0 en, under the action of the cam acting mem ers 157, thus releasing the completed grid lates whereupon the molds are successively c eane and smoked while each preceding mold is again being. filled, in the manner hereinabove described. d I From the foregoing descri tion of the machine and its operation it-is elieved that the construction, advantages and merits of this invention will be apparent, especially to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. It is understood, however, that suitable modifications may be made in the general design and structural details of the invention as herein disclosed, provided, however, that such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the ap ended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated anddescribed my invention, what I claim to be new is: 1. A molten metal-feeding mechanism comprising, a pot ada ted to confine a predetermined amount 0' molten metal, a plunger adapted to reciprocate in the pot and upon an inward movement to displace a predetermined amount of metal, meansfgr actuating the piston, a valve in the pot'to admit metal thereto for replenishin the pot to compensate for the metal previous y displaced, and means independent of the piston and connected with the has piston actuating means to open the valve at predetermined. intervals.

2. In a machine of'the character described, a primary chamber in which the metal is melted, a second chamber adjacent the primary chamber and adapted tp be heated together It may here be noted thatthis therewith, means for transferrin molten metal'f'rom the primary chamber to t e second chamber, a pot'contamed within the second chamber for receiving metal therefrom, and" means for delivering the metal from the pot.

her in which the metal is melted, a [second chamber adjacent the dprimary chamber and adapted to be heate together therewith, means for transferring molten metal fromthe primary chamber to the second'chamber, a eed pot contained within the second chamber for receiving metal therefrom, and means for maintaining the metal in the-second chamber at a constant predetermined level. v

, 4. In a casting machine a metal feeding mechanism comprising a chamber for con- 3. In a casting machine, a primary chamtaining molten metal, a pot arranged within the chamberso as to be submerged in the metal, a spout leading from said pot, means for displacing a redetermined amount of metal in the pot w ereby the overflow will be predetermined determined amount'of metal therein whereby such displaced metal may be conducted out through the spout, and positively actuated means, 0 eratively associated with the piston.

and ren ered operative at a predetermined interval after the piston hasstarted its out-.

ward stroke, to 0 en the valve, wherebya slight retraction o the metal in the s out Wlll. be effected by the piston prior to re lhng of the potthrough the valve. 6. In a molten metal feeding mechan sm, a chamber for containing the molten metal, a pot arranged within the chamber below the normal metal level thereof andhavm spout through which the metal is to be fe a plston operative to reciprocate in the pot to displace metal therein which metal is then conducted out through the spout, a valve 1n ltlli the pot throu h which the metal fromthe chamberl may e run into the pot, and means,

independent of the pistom-but positively ac-- metal in the chamber, and a mechanism form v ing a part of the machine for lifting the pot out of the chamber and for replacing the pot in a predetermined position in the chamber.

8. In a casting machine, a metal melting chamber, a metal feeding mechanism, including a feed pot adapted to be submerged in the metal in the chamber, and means incorporated in the machine for raising the entire feeding mechanism to lift the pot out of the molten metal and for replacing'the pot in a predetermined position in the chamber.

9. In' a casting machine a metal and feeding mechanism comprising a furnace, a melting chamber depending into the furnace and having its Walls spacedtherefrom, said furnace having an elevated shallow portion, and said chamber having a reduced portion extending over but spaced from said shallow portion,

chamber, a discharge spout extending from the pot ina oose neck extension over the edge and a feed pot in the chamber having a spout positioned in said reduced chamber portion.

10. In a casting machine, a metal melting and feed mechanism comprising a chamber in Which the metal is melted, a pot in the of the'cham er, means for forcing metal from the pot into and out through the spout, said spout having an openable section whereby the spout and its extension may be cleaned.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR D. LUN D. 

